Automatic phonograph



' July 15, 1941.

s. LESSMAN 2,249,216

AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH I Filed Dec. 23, 1937 13 Sheets-Sheet 1 Gerxra Zessmn- July 15, 1941. G. LESSMAN 2,249,216

AUTOM ATIC PHONOGRAPH Filed Dec. 23, 1937 13 Sheets-Sheet 2 flavemi'or Gerajrd [653mm y cs. LESSMAN AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH Fil ed Dec. 23, 1937 13 Sheets-Sheet 3 2 w ll.

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AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH Filed Dec. 23, 1937 13 Sheets-Sheet 5 July 9. e. LEssM N AUTOMATIC PHQNOGRAPH 15 Sheets-She e tB I kgziz/ezz/ibzf Filed Dec. 23, 1937 Z, asis'm (470 ,ka m 7 a y"' G. LESSMAN 2,249,216 AUTOMATIC PHONOQRAPH Filed Dec. 23, 1937 13 Sheets-Sheet 7 Jig- July 15,1941.

' Filed Dc. 23, 1937 6. LESSMAN AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH l3 Sheets-Sheet 8 cs, LESSMAN 2,249,216 AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH Filed Dec. 23, 1937 l3 Sheets-Sheet 9 r k zzvem Q z lixrd zeas'ma July 15, 1941. q LESSMAN 2,249,216

AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH Filed Dec. 23, 1937 13 Sheets-Sheet 11 wen/Z01? Ju1 15,1941. G. LESSMAN v 2,249,216'

AUTOMAT I 0 PH DNOGRAPH Filed Dec. 23, 1937 I 13 Sheets-Sheet 12 Gerazz/ lss'mwza July 15, 1941. G. LEssMAN AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH Filed Dec. 2:5, 193*,'

13 Sheets-Sheet 13 Patented July 15, 1941 AUTOMATIC PHONO GRAPH Gerhard Lessman, Chicago, Ill., assignor to .LP.

Seeburg Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application December 23, 1937, Serial No'. 181.258 7 Claims. gc1.'2'14. 10)

This invention relates to automatic phonographs which are adapted to play a sequence of records, and its principal object is to provide an improved phonograph of this type.

The present phonograph is particularly intended for employment as a coin-operated phonograph, capable of playing a number ofrecords, according to the number of coins inserted, in the same sequence as their order of preselection. T v

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a phonographhaving a multi-selector capable of preselecting a sequence of records to be played in the order of their selection.

A further object of the invention is to provide a phonograph having a multi-selector capable of preselecting a program of records which can include repeated renditions of any one record.

A further object of the invention is to'provid'e a phonograph having a multi-selector'capable' of clearing itself after a full sequenceof records has been performed preparatory to preselecting a further sequence of renditions. 1 g

A further object of the invention is to provide a phonograph having a multi-selector'capable'of being manually cleared of previous selections, should the operator so desire. i

A further object of the invention is to provide a phonograph having amulti-selector capable of functioning to attain the objects previously disclosed, while the phonograph is in operation.

A further object of theinvention is to provide a phonograph having a multi selector capable of dial operation; T l Further objects of the invention will present themselves during the following description of a specific embodiment of the invention. taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of theimproved phonograph, the cabinet normally enclosing the same, and the electrical amplifying and sound producing system being omitted; A

Fig. 2 is an end elevation lookingfromthe right-hand side; I

Fig. 3 is a plan view thereof i :Fig. 4 is a front view of the accumulator switch along the line 4-4 of Fig. 2, showing the elements in the position in which they are located during normal operation;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevation, taken along the line 55 of Fig. 2, showing the forward end of the main cam shaft and a cam carried thereby;

V Fig. 6 is a frangmentary section viewed'from the front of the machine, with numerous parts I broken away'and omitted in order to show the mechanism whereby the records are elevated and the selector carriage is actuated; "Fig; 7 is a plan view corresponding thereto;

Fig. 8 is a. view similar to Fig. 6 showing the elements in a different position, being the position in which the selector carriage is arrested to enable the machineto play'the eighth record; -Fig. 9 is a fragmentary' view similar to Figs; 7 and 8, showing the parts in difiere'nt relationship;

Fig. 10 '-is a perspective 'detail of elements shown in Figs. 6, '7, 8 and 9; I

Fig. 11 is a partially sectioned view of the means for carrying the record holders;

Figl 12 is an end view of the selector mecha nism looking along the lines |2l2 of Fig. 3'; Fig. 13 is a section through the selector mechanism, taken along the plane '|3'I3 of Fig. l4;

Fig. "14 is a rear View of the selector mechanism looking along the lines Ill-44 of 3'; I

Fig. 15 is an end view of theselector looking along the lines'l5-l5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 16'is a fragmentary elevation of the se lector mechanism looking along lines |6'-l6 of F 15;

Fig; 17 is a fragmentary plan section-taken along lines |1l 1 of Fig. 15;

' Fig. 18 is a section through one of the-torsion couplers 35l--355 taken along plane I3-- |8 of Fig. 19;

' Fig. 19;is an elevation thereof; r

Fig. 20 is the plan'view' or one of the lugs est thereof Fig. 21 is a profile view of one of the disc cam-s 391-395; r Fig. 22 is a profile:lview of one of the rosette cams-'32l- 325; Fig. 7 23 is aprofile view cams3ll-3l5;

Fig. 24 is-an elevation thereof 'as' seen from theleft, including'aspoke and a portion of an end wall of the selector; and

Fig. 25 is an elevation thereof as seen from the right. r

Referring to the drawingsin which like numerals-designate like parts throughout the same; the present invention is'described in connection with the automatic phonograph described and claimed in the pending application" Serial No. 160,235, filed by'Russell I. Wilcox.

of one of the spiral in a cabinet [3, fragmentary portions of which are shown. The instrument is arranged for control by means of coins inserted in the usual manner. This control may be effected by means of an accumulator switch 66, which controls the supply of energy to the motor 63.

The accumulator switch 66 comprises a ratchet wheel I15 which is urged to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction by means of a spring I16. When one or more coins are inserted by the coin chute (not shown) the electromagnet I11 is energized an appropriate number of times. Each time the magnet I11 is energized, the armature I18 pivotally mounted at I19 is attracted against the tension of spring I86. Said armature carries an escapement I8I, which causes ratchet I15 to rotate one tooth each time the armature is attracted and released.

Two contacts GI and 62, urged together by spring I84, which control the supply of energy to the motor 63, are mounted on the ends of pivoted insulating blocks I10 and I821. Block I10 carries a pawl I89. Ratchet I15 is actuated when block I16 is forced downward by the action of lever I13 turned by shaft I12. After ratchet I15 has been electromagnetically, actuated several times by the insertion of coins, the phonograph having started to play, will return the ratchet wheel I15 one tooth at a time, as each record plays, by th action of pawl I89, until the ratchet is returned to its initial position. On the last return engagement of pawl I89, a pin I85 rotating on ratchet I15 pulls apart the contacts 6| and 62 by carrying along with it the hook I81 set in block I82, thus effectively deenergizing the motor 63.

The motor 63, through shaft 61, turns a worm 69 which cooperates with a worm gear 10 keyed to vertical spindle 1I. Said spindle carries on its upper extremity the elongated sleeve IOI of turntable I02. The spindle 1| is provided with a longitudinal slot into which projects a set screw carried by sleeve I-OI. Consequently, the turntable is capable of free vertical movement on the spindle, but is caused to rotate therewith. The lower end of the sleeve IBI rests on the carriage 91. A cam 93, carried by the main cam shaft 19, strikes a roller I carried by the carriage 91, thereby elevating the turntable I02 at appropriate times.

The spindle H is provided with a worm 11 which continuously operates a gear 18, free to rotate on the main cam shaft 19. Said gear is adapted to be clutched to shaft19 by means of a clutch member I2 which is engaged at all times except when the tone arm 294 is reproducing a record on the turntable I02. 1

The main cam shaft 19 bears at its near end a cam 96 of such shape that its follower, roller 223, actuates the crank 421, on an arm 224 of which it is mounted, once very quickly just as the carriage IE is being returned to its initial position. The crank 421, oscillating under the influence of cam 96,v actuates the multi-selector 366 through the agency of link 41!), as will be described later.

The main cam shaft 19 bears a cam '94 cooperating with roller I34 borne on an arm' I35 pivotally mounted on shaft I36 by means of a sleeve I31. The shaft is pivotally mounted on the chassis of the phonograph, and has rigidly mounted at its rear end an arm I38. Thisarm is biased towards theleft, as viewed in Fig. 6, by means of a spring. I39 for the purpose of counterbalancing to some extent the weight of the records, which are elevated by the mechanism now being described.

The sleeve I 31 is provided with an integral arm I46 which carries at one end a set screw I4I. This set screw is adapted to engage, in the nonplaying position of the machine, a lug I42 carried on an arm I43 rigidly mounted on the shaft I36 and which extends to the left of the machine. The left-hand end of the arm I43 is connected by means of a link I44 to a carriage I45 which is slidably mounted upon a vertical rod I46 which is rigidly supported by cross members I41 carried by the chassis.

The carriage comprises upper and lower flanges I48 and I49 which are provided with openings through which the rod I46 extends. The carriage I45 also comprises a rearwardly projecting arm I53 which rigidly carries the vertical rod I I3. As will be described later, the vertical rod II3 supports the stack of records to be played.

Because of the resilient connection between arms I40 and I43yielded by spring I53, as shown in Figs. -6, 7, 8, 9 and 10, the arm I43 tends to follow the arm I40. This movement of the arm I43 is accompanied by an upward movement of the carriage I45. Means are provided, as will be described hereinafter, for arresting the carriage at various positions. When the carriage is thus arrested, the spring I53 extends, this relation being shown in Fig. 8.

The carriage I45 carries the records which are to be played. These records are mounted in individual ring carriers 26I. These carriers are individually supported by means of a cage structure 266, best seen in Fig. 11, which is rigidly mounted on thebar II3. Each ring carrier has a radial extension 262 provided with an opening through which extends the vertical rod II3 of carriage I45. Each radial extension 262 is provided at its extremity with an integral tab 263 which is reduced in thickness at that edge 264 normally toward the turntable position. Each extension 262 isalso provided with a small lug 265. The tabs 263 and lugs 265 project out of the cage structure at the side opposite the record carrier with which they-are associated. The cage structure 266 carries spring members 210 which are adapted to engagethe lugs 265 when the carirers are in the inoperative position.

A bail 21I is pivotally mounted for rotation on the axis of. the bar H3. Said bail turns against the tension of spring 214. The bail 21I is normally engaged by all the tabs 263. When one of the carriers 26I is moved towards the turntable position, its tab catches the bail 21I and carries it. into position against the opposition of spring 214, thus accumulating tension therein for restoring said carrier to the normal position. I

An arm I I4 upwardly projecting from the carriage I45 bears at its upper end a block 288 provided'with a generally triangular opening 289 on its side directed towards the tabs 263. The block 288 extends inwardly of the arm 'I I4, so that the arm may clear the tabs 264 while the blocks 288 may engage a selected one ofthem. The arrestment of the carriage I45 is so'arranged that the tab 264 of that record intended to be played is located on exactly the same level as the block 288.

Referring again to Fig. 6, an arm I GI keyed to shaft I36, and therefore positively connected with the record carriage elevating .a rm I43, actuates the link I62. This link is connected through an intermediately pivoted crank with a link-I64, actuating the carriage I65. During the rotation of cam 94, carriage I65 is at first normally forced to travel to the right, guided by rods 246 and 241 until restrained by one of the spokes 30l of the multi-selector mechanism 300, in the manner to be described subsequently. In so doing, the carriage I55 causes carriage I45 to be also arrested, because of the positive interconnection already described. At the endof the normal cycle of the machine, the carriage I65 moves into its extreme left-hand position, carry ing the carriage I45 to its lowermost positionat the same time.

The carriage I65 bears a dog 256 adapted to abut against that one of spokes 30I which extends rearwardly from the selector 300 in a horizontal plane. The dog 256 is flexiblypivoted on carriage I65 so that it may be deflected by any of the spokes that may be in its path as the carriage is returning to its extreme left-hand position.

These spokes 30I are set spirally in a shaft 302, with equiangular spacing and equal longitudinal separation, so that the spacing of the spokes MI is such that the carriage I65, when intercepted by any one of them, will cause a numerically corresponding record carrier 26I to be exactly aligned with the aforedescribed block 288. Thus the selector 300, by causing the appropriate spokes 30I to come into the carriage intercepting position, causes the appropriate record to be elevated by the carriage I45 to the correct position preparatory to being'carried to the turntable.

I have now described as much of the phonograph mechanism as is necessary to a clear understanding of the action of my novel multiselector mechanism. Having described the manner in which a record is elevated to the playing position by the action of a spoke 30I of the multiselector 300 on carriage I65,.and havingdescribed the source of the motive power required to operate said selector, I shall notdescribe the operation of carrying a selected record to. the turntable I02, nor the manner in which thetone arm 294 is caused to engage the record for playing, since these detailsare not necessary to an understanding of the present invention.

Keyed to shaft 302 by the spokes which pass through them are notched bushings 305. Rotatably journaled upon shaft 302,- andseparated by bushings 305 are five spiral cams 3| I' to 3I5, provided, as in Fig. 23, with a curved springoperated catch 306 under such tension that tooth 301 will be forced to engage notch 303 of bushing 305. Thus any rotation of shaft'3il2 will bepositively communicated to the spiral cams, unless arm 309 be caused to move a ainst the pull of spring 3I0, releasing tooth 301 from notch-303. This action is well shown by Fig. 23, wherein the normal engaged position is shown in full lines and the disengaged position in phantom lines. Arm 309 is engaged by the arms 326 of its respective rosette cam 325 when in the disengaged position shown in phantom. In the en gaged position, arm 309 is adjacent the vacant space 321 of the irregular four leaVed roSette' cam shown in Fig. 22. Shaft 302 is suitably supported at its extremes by the selector supporting frame members l4 and I5 and is protected against lateral movement by the collars 303 and 304. The shaft is further supported by the end plates 3l6 and 3" through which it; passes. These end plates, together with the front plate 3I8 and supporting rib 3 I 9 are cast integral with disengaged from its respective notch. By advancing the position of each of the five rosette cams one-fifth of one revolution over the position of the preceding one, the five spiral cams can each be successively caused to be engaged by rotating bushings 305 once during each of five successive positions of the rosette cams during the course of one revolution. The aforementioned rosette cams are carried by the cam shaft 330, supported in bearings formed by the end plates 3I6 and 3II. Journaled upon that end 'of shaft 330 extending through the wall 3I6 is a gear sector 4| 4, of such angular measure as to engage the flanged pinion 4I5 during slightly more than one complete revolution thereof. Said pinion is loosely journaled upon spoke shaft 302, The pinion M5 is flexibly connected with said spoke shaft 302 by means of a torsion spring M6, whose ends are fastened respectively to the pinion and to the collar 303, in such manner that the spoke shaft will tend to follow the movements of the pinion unless constrained by other forces.

Keyed to shaft 330, and lying against sector M4 is a ratchet 4H, bearing ten teeth, as shown in Fig. 15. Said ratchet is engaged by a pawl H8 carried by the sector 4, which sector during the course of one oscillation forced by the 7 link 9 causes the pawl to advance the ratchet 4|! two divisions or one-fifth of one revolution, thus causing successive spiral cams 3 to 3I5 to be connected to the spoke shaft 302 as p'reviously described.

Returning now the flexible coupling or spring 4I6 between pinion M5 and shaft 302, it will be .seenthat with sector M4 in -theposition shown in Fig. 15, shaft 302 and the five spiral cams associated with it will be forcedto assume the initial position shown in Fig. 1 3, invwhich the kerf 328 in the spiral cam 3I5 is restrained by the edge of rib 3I9. If now the sector M4 is caused by link M9 to move in a clockwise direction, that is the link moving to the left of Fig.

15, shaft 302 in Fig. 13 will'be caused to followin a clockwise direction. Assuming the spiral cam 3I5 to be positively connected to shaft .302, that is, with its arm 303 unengaged by any of the arms 326 of.rosette cam 325, said shaft will follow the rotation. of pinion M5 until restrained by the. engagement of one of the teeth 34L of spiralcam 3l5 with the tooth 342 of plunger 335 as shown by the phantom outlines.

sition. Thus in Fig. 13 plunger tooth 342 isin the phantom position corresponding to record number eleven and isintercepting the eleventh Pinion M5 is however enabled to complete a full revolution tooth 341 of spiral cam 315. Shown in phantom is the eleventh horizontal spoke 301, which when intercepting the carriage 165- causes the eleventh record to be played. In like manner any record can be selected by" placing the respective plunger of an engaged spiral cam in an appropriate vertical position.

As mentioned previously, the rosette cams 321-325 are staggered in such manner that the spiral cams 311-315 are consecutively and successively driven by shaft 352, successively causing spokes 331 to be brought into carriage intercepting positions, according to the various downward displacements of the plungers. At each oscillation of link 459, just preceding the elevation of the turntable, the spoke corresponding to the record to be next played is brought into position, and thus is provided the means of playing a sequence of five or less records in the same sequence as the selections indicated by the consecutive plunger displacements. I will now describe the method of manually controlling the consecutive plunger positions.

Supported in bearings formed by two lugs 32!! projecting from end plate H1 is a shaft 461 projecting through the front panel of the cabinet 13. Securely mounted thereon is the flanged frame 432 ofidial 431]. To this is screwed a lidshaped cover 433 bearing openings 434 intended to expose the names of records printed on an annular paper ring 465 held between the opposing surfaces of frame 432 and cover 433. Rotating within the central opening in cover 433 is the dial face 435, securely fastened to dial shaft 401 between threaded washer 481 and finishing nut 4118. Around the circumferencev of the dial face are grouped sixteen finger holes 463, equally spaced around an arc of 320 degrees, which are identified by the numerals one to fifteenand the word Clear printed on the dial frame under the corresponding holes. As shownin Fig. 1, a finger stop 416 is provided to limit the rotation that may be imparted to the dial.

- Keyed to the dial shaft is a bevel pinion 4! 1 urged to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction, as seen from the front, by a torsion spring 412.

,Said bevel pinion 411 actuates bevel gear 413 keyed to that end of shaft 35 projecting through end plate 311, as shown in Fig. 12. Rotation of the dial is limited in the counter-clockwise direction by the arm 431 of spider 439, which is keyed to shaft 359, striking the roller 454 at its extreme upward position. Rotation of the dial in the clockwise direction is limited by the arm 432 of spider 433 striking the arm 441 of spider 440.

The shaft 358 has mounted upon it five flexible couplers 351355 so spaced as to cooperate in a manner to be described presently with the racks 343 formed upon the-ends of plungers 331-335. Fig. 18 is a vertical section of one of the aforementioned flexible couplers. A flanged bushing 356 is keyed. to the shaft 35! while freely rotating adjacent thereto is a sleeve 351 having two flanges bearing a ratchet segment 358 and an ordinary gear segment 359. These segments bear the same number of teeth as the number of records playable by the phonograph. Rotating upon the bushing 353 and lying snugly against the flange thereof are two lugs 356 each bearing a finger 351.- These fingers are urged by two spiral springs 332, mounted in bushing 356 and fastened to said fingers, against the two pins 363 and 364, set respectively in the ratchet segment and in the flanged bushing. Said pins are accurately aligned between the opposingfaces of fingers 351, thereby causing sleeve'351 to resiliently follow the movements of flanged bushing 356. Should rotation of said sleeve 351 be hindered by restraining the ratchet segment 358, then the resiliency of the spring 362 will enable the bushing 356 to complete its rotation. The aforedescribed five couplers 351-355 are aligned upon shaft 356 in such manner that pins 364 are normally in the top position shown in Fig. 19. In this position the plungers 331335 with racks 343 engaged by gear segments 353 are at the top of their travel.

Pivoted to rotate around pins 385 set in the slots 356 of rib 319 are five single-toothed bell cranks 311 to 315. The teeth 316 of said bell cranks are adapted to bear against the teeth of corresponding adjacent ratchet segments 35301? the respective couplers in a manner depending on the force with which said toothed bell cranks are urged against said ratchet. This force is normally supplied by a relatively weak grasshopper spring 336 set in rib 319 acting against a suitable projection 311 of the bell crank. The tooth 316 acts therefore as a pawl allowing only unidirectional rotation of its associated ratchet 358.

As shown in Fig. 13 a pin 318 set in the horizontal arm of the bell crank 315 is projecting through an elongated slot 319 in a follower lever 385 pivoted coaxially with its associated bell crank 315. Said lever is urged by a strong grasshopper spring 331 and through the agency of a roller 396 against the associated disc cam 395, of which there are five specimens 331395 keyed to shaft 390 at intervals of one-fifth revolution. The slot 318 is'of such proportions that when roller 366 is in contact with cam 335 at position C, Fig. 13, then the toothed bell crank 315 is free to act as a pawl of the ratchet segment of flexible coupler 355, because pin 313 is not restrained by the lower edge of slot319. .When roller 396 is in contact withcam 395 atthe eX- treme lower position 13, the toothed bell crank 315 is entirely disengaged from its ratchet seg: ment, as shown by the phantom positionFig 13. by virtue of the pin 318 being forced downward by the upper edge of slot 311. When roller 396 is in contact with cam 395 at the extreme upper position A, or at any point of the cam not between the points A--BC, the tooth 316 of bell crank 315 is forced against its respective ratchet segment to securely lock the same against rotation in either direction, because of the pin 318 being urged upward and positively there held'by the lower edge of slot 319, said slot being positively held in said upward position by virtue of the restraining action of the cam 335 on roller By virtue of the disc cams being consecutively displaced one-fifth of one revolution, for example, if'cam 393 be in contact with its roller 396 at point A, and the cam 392 makes contact with its roller 396 at point C, and so forth, the operations of the bell cranks 313 and 312 will follow each other in such manner that when the ratchet of coupler 352 is free to rotate in one direction, the ratchet of coupler 353 is still securely locked, but when the ratchet of coupler 352 is next securely locked, then coupler-353 is entirely free to follow the rotation of shaft 353.

As mentioned previously, an arm 431 of spider 430 rotated by shaft 353 impels the. roller 454, Fig. 15, upward as the shaft 353'is being turned by the dial 460, returning to the initial position under the influence of spring 412. The aforesaid records.

roller 454 is pinned to the rocker 'arm 453 of the double ratchet mechanism 456. The two pawls 45!-4'5-2 of said mechanism are actuated by said rocker arm 453 and are guided by a pivot pin 455 against which the sides of slots 45645'l .are urged by springs 458 and 459. Said slots are of such length that. pawls 45! and 452 give to ratchet wheel 463 an impulse of one-tenth of one revolution for each downward stroke of each pawl. Said slots 456 and 45'! are of such shape that the pawls guided thereby clear the. teeth of said ratchet at both the. beginning and end of each stroke. Said slots are of such' width that each pawl may avoid on its own up stroke the downward. moving tooth or ratchet 463 propelled by the other pawl.

Ratchet 463 is securely tied .to' a similar but reversed ratchet 462 by means of pin 464. Said ratchet assembly is rotatably mounted upon that .end of shaft 396 projectingthroughend plate 3!6 The ratchet 46! is firmly keyed and ratchet 46 to shaft 395 and transmits clockwise rotation thereto, as in Fig. 15, by virtue of the engagement ofpawl .465 with the teeth of ratchet 462. Therefore, each actuation of the ratchet 463 by one of the pawls 45! and 452 turns shaft 396 and the disc cams 39!39-5 keyed thereto one-tenth of one revolution, or the equivalent of the distance from Ato 3:01 B 1700 on said cams.

.The rocker arm 453 is urged to rotate counterclockwise .by the spring 466, which is of such strength. as to actuate fully the double ratchet mechanism 456, but which will not overcome the leverage of arm 43!. Now, because of the relatively small oscillation required ofrocker arm 453, lever 43! will rotate sufiiciently to actuate the double ratchet mechanisms 45!] to the extent of one stroke even though dial 466 be turned only far enough to select record number one. Likewise, when the dial is allowed to return to its initial position under the influence of spring 4l2 said doubleratchet mechanism is again fully actuated, thereby accomplishing the rotation of disc cams 39!395 one-fifth of one revolution,

with the resulting actions on couplers 35 !'355 as;

previously described.

I have now fully described the construction of the mechanism required to preset plungers 33! 335 to positions corresponding to the sequence of records dialed, and will outline the operations involved in selecting a sequence of five or less Assuming disc cam'39! to be at position 3,. cams 392395 will be in such a position that the ratchet segments of their respective flexible couplers 352355 will be securely locked as pre- I viously described.

Coupler 35 being free to rotate, has drawn its respective plungerr33! to the extreme upper position corresponding to the initial position of .the. dial. 466. If now the operator wishes record number seven to be playedfirst, he inserts his finger into the seventh of the finger holes 409 and turns the dial face .466 until restrained by the finger stop 4l6.. Simultaneously, the coupler 35! follows shaft 356 and moves plunger 33i to a.

position corresponding to record I, and conjointly .the cam shaft 396 is turned one-tenth of one revolution by the action of double ratchet mechanism 456. Said action advances cam 39! to position C and cam 392 to position A, at which position the ratchet segment of coupler 35! allowed to rotate in only one direction, as previously described. This direction is opposed to the direction of rotation of shaft 356 during the return of dial 466 to its initial position. There- 44'! of spider 446.

responds with the position A and during which the ratchet of coupler 35! issecurely locked. This plunger33! is securely held at record position seven during the subsequent selection of four more records. Simultaneously with the movement of cam 39!, cam 392 was moved to position B,

thus repeating the cycle of operations described,

and causing plunger 332 to'be set and locked in a position corresponding to the record number next dialed. In like manner, all'five plungers 33!-,-335 can be successively set to positions representing a sequence of record selections. The

plungers then cause the phonograph mechanism to produce the record sequence in the manner already outlined previously;

I shall now describe the operation of clearing the selector mechanism of a present sequence of renditions by dialingPClear on the last of the dial finger holes 469. The full extent of rotation of the dial is here brought into play, thereby causing arm 432 of spider 430 to be swung around until it contacts the upturned end of arm44! of spider 446. Said spider contains a peripheral indentation 442 whose edge abuts on pin 443 set in a pawl 444, pivoted coaxially below spider 440, and which engages the large ratchet 46 I. As the ,arm 432 strikes arm 44!, pawl 444 is disengaged from ratchet 46!, and is kept disengaged by the spring 445 which has been thrown over its dead center. Motion of pawl 44 is limited by a pin 446 7 set in end plate 3l6. The ratchet 46!, not being further restrained by its pawl 444, and being under the accumulated tension of torsion spring 398, returns to its next initial position along with the two ratchets 4 62 and .463 acting on pawl 465. As previously mentioned, the ratchets 462 and 463 carry a pin 464, which projects from the surface of ratchet 463 in order to be intercepted by arm Said arm is properly shaped to clear the various ratchets over Which it must pass. As the pin 464, under the influence of torsion spring 398 rotates counter-clockwise, it strikes arm 441, now in its uppermost position,

,and carries the same to its lowermost position, illustrated in Fig. 15. Ann 447, acting on pawl 444 through spring 448, carries the same into reengagement with ratchet 46!, thereby tripping spring 445 overto the other side of itsldeadcenter. It is to be noted'that the spring cannot be tripped over its dead center by the pawl 444 as it clears the teeth of ratchet 45!. The ratchet assembly, and conjointly the shaft 396 and its ets to come to a stop at such a position that the next first selection will be impressed on that plunger 33l-335 which corresponds to that spiral cam 3! !-3!5 which is next to spoke shaft 362, will now be described.

To the upturned eccentric corner of gear sec- 7 be engaged by tor M4 is pinned a compensating pawl 42!], of

irregular shape to avoid the various objects in its path, with actuates the ratchet 462. A pin .42! set in end wall 3l6 and projecting past the lower edge of pawl 426 guides the pawl 42!! when actuated by the gear segment 414 in such a fashion that the ratchet 462 is rotated counter-clockwise one fifth of one revolution, and disengaged at the end of the return stroke. It

is necessary that the pawl be normally disengaged to prevent interference with the free rotation of the three ratchets 461-463. As each record is played by the machine, gear sector 414 makes one oscillation which results, as described, in one fifth counter-clockwise revolution of ratchets 4112 and 463. Ratchet 461, and therefore shaft 390, are held against counter-clockwiserotation by pawl 444. The net result is that pin 464 is carried one-fifth of one revolution counter-clockwise until after five records have been played it has resumed its original position. Therefore, the position at which the disc cams come to restafter the ratchet 461 has been tripped and reset by the action of pin 454 on arm 441 is always such that that disc cam 391-395 is in control which corresponds to that spiral cam 311--315 next to be engaged by spoke shaft 362. For example, if initially cams 391 and 311 were in control, after threerecords had been played, cam 314 would;

be in control. If now ratchet 461 were released by dialing Clear, the shaft 390 would return cam 39! to the initial B position, had not the compensating pawl 421! advanced cam 462 three divisions, so that pin 454 would reengagepawl 444 when cam 394 is in the initial B position. Thus, for the next sequence of selections cams -314 and 394 are in the conjoint position insuring that the next selection played'will be the first record of the next sequence of selections.

If the full number of five selections are made by the operator, pin 464 has been returned to its initial position shown in Fig. by reason of having completed one revolution. Arm 441 is however above the pin at this stage, rather than below it as shown in Fig. 15. When ratchet 461 now moves one-tenth of one revolution, as a result of dialing the first number of the next series of selections, pawl 444 is tripped, and the ratchet and cam shaft assembly, urged by spring --398, returns to the position shown in Fig. 15.

The arm 441- is struck by pin 464, urged to rotate with the ratchet assembly, and returns which is adapted to ride on the periphery of the cam 96. The shape of cam 96 is such that link 4-19 is oscillated very quickly as the carriage 165 is being returned. Because of the fact that the machine does not return said carriage until the next record is played after it stops for want of coins deposited, no false selection will be made subsequently because of premature actuation of the selector by link 4-19. Cam 93v is actuated as illustrated in the description of the. phonograph proper.

Having now described the construction. and operation of the phonograph mechanism. and the construction and operation of the multiselector mechanism, togethenwith the operative relationship between these two, I wish to emphasize that this preferred embodiment of my invention is in no wise intended to limit the scope of my invention as defined in the following claims.

For instance,.the multi-selector claimed can be used with other automatic phonographs than that disclosed in the Wilcox application, or it may be used to preselect operating sequences on other mechanisms than phonographs.

Many changes and additions to the mechanism described can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. For instance,

-a governor may be added to dial shaft 401 to regulate the speed of rotation back to the initial position, after the manner of the well-known telephone dial also, by increasing or decreasing the number of plungers and associated parts, the mechanism may be made to preselect more or less records than the illustrated embodiment.

Other modifications to the mechanism described may be undertaken without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In an automatic phonograph adapted to play a plurality of records successively and comprising a selector member movable through a plurality of positions and adapted to be arrested in any of said positions and to control in each of said positions the playing of a record corresponding to said position, a manually operable selector adapted to. arrest said selector member in a successive number of positions selected in any desired order to effect the playing of records in that order, comprising a series of displaceable members, means for displacing said displaceable members one after the other to various degrees, a series of individual cam members each adapted to cooperate with one of said displaceable members and to be arrested thereby in a position determined by the displacement of the cooperating displaceable. member, and means for operatively connecting each cam. member in order with said selector member, whereby said selector member is arrested in successive operations at various positions depending upon the degree of displacement of said displaceable members to effect the playing of records corresponding to the degrees. of displacement of the successive members of the series of displaceable members.

2. In an automatic phonograph adapted to play va plurality of records successively and comprising a selector member movable through a plurality of positions and adapted to be arrested in any of said positions and to control in eachof said positions the playing of a record corresponding to said position, a manually operable selector adapted to arrest said selector member in asuccessive number of positions selected in any desired-order to effect the playing of records in that order, comprising a series of displaceable members, a manually operable member-adapted todisplace all of said members to various degrees, meansfor maintaining all of said displaceable members except one against displacement by said manually operablemeans, and means for moving said retaining m'eans-stepby step-to render said displaceable means operable in desired order-, a series of individual cam'members each adapted to cooperatewith one of said displaceablemembers and to be arrested thereby in. aposition determined by. the displacement of the cooperating displaceablemember, means for operatlvely connecting each of said. cam. members in order with said selector member, whereby said selector member is arrested in successive operations at various positions depending upon the degree of displacement of said displaceable members to effect the playing of records corresponding to the degrees of displacement of the successive members of the series of displaceable members.

3. In an automatic phonograph adapted to play a plurality of records successively and comprising a selector member movable through a plurality of positio'ns and adapted to be arrested in any of said positions and to control in each of said positions the playing of a record corresponding to said position, a manually operable selector adapted to arrest said selector member in a. successive number of positions selected in any desired order to effect the playing of records in that order, comprising a series of displaceable members, a manually operable member adapted to displace all of said members to various degrees, means for maintaining allof said displaceable members except one against displacement by said manually operable means, means for moving said retaining means step by step to render said displaceable means operable in desired order, a series of individual cam members each adapted to cooperate with one of said displaceable members and to be arrested thereby in a position determined by the displacement of the cooperating displaceable member, means normally and operatively connecting said cam members with said selector member, operable means for disconnecting all of said cam members from said selector member, with a single exception, means for moving last said operable means step by step to effect the connection of said cam members in order with said selector member, whereby said selector member is arrested in successive operations at various positions depending upon the degree of displacement of said displaceable members to effect the playing of records corresponding to the degrees of displacement of the successive members of the series of displaceable members.

4. In an automatic phonograph adapted to play a plurality of records successively and comprising a selector member movable through a plurality of positions and adapted to be arrested in any of said positions and to control in each of said positions the playing of a record corresponding to said position, a manually operable selector adapted to arrest said selector member in a successive number of positions selected in any desired order to efiect the playing of records in that order, comprising a series of displaceable members, a dial displaceable to various degrees, means operatively connecting said dial to said displaceable members, means disconnecting said dial from said displaceable means with a single exception, means actuated by the dial for moving said disconnecting means step by step to connect the dial operatively to successive displaceable members to efiect the displacement of said members to various degrees depending upon the displacements of said dial, a series of individual cam members each adapted to cooperate with one of said displaceable members and to be arrested thereby in a position determined by the displacement of the cooperating displaceable member, means for operatively connecting each of said cam members in order with said selector member, whereby said selector member is arrested in successive operations at various positions depending upon the degree of displacement of saiddisplaceable members-to efiect the playing of records corresponding to the degreesvof displacement of the successive members of the series of displaceable members.

5. In an automatic phonograph adapted to play a plurality of records successively andcomprising a selector member movable through a plurality of positions and adapted to be arrested in any ofsaidpositions and to control in each of said positions the playing of a record corresponding to said position, a manually operable selector adapted 'to arrest said selector member in a successive-number of positions selected in any desired order to effect the playing of records in that order, comprising; a series of displaceable members,la dial displaceable to various degrees, means operatively connecting'said dial to said displaceable members, means disconnecting said dial from said displaceable means with a single exception, means actuated by the dial for moving said disconnecting means step by step to connect the dial operatively to successive displaceable members to effect thex'displacement of said members to various degrees depending upon the displacements of saiddial, a series of individual cam members each adapted to cooperate with one of said displaceable membersand to be arrested thereby in a position determined by the displacement of the cooperating displaceable member, means for operatively connecting each of said cam members in order with said selector member, whereby said selector member is arrested in successive operations at various positions depending upon the degree of displacement of said displaceable members to efiect the playing of records corresponding to the degrees'of displacement of the successive members of theseries of displaceable members, means normally and operatively connecting said cam members with said selector member, operable means for disconnecting all of said cam members from said selector member, with a single exception, means for moving last said operable means step by step to effect the connection of said cam members in order with said selector member, whereby said selector member is arrested in successive operations at various positions depending upon the degree of displacement of said displaceable members to efiect the playing of records corresponding to the degrees of displacement of the successive members of the series of displaceable members.

6. In an automatic phonograph adapted to play a plurality of records successively and comprising a selector member movable through a plurality of positions and adapted to be arrested in any of said positions and to control in each of 7 said positions the playing of a record corresponding to said position, a manually operable selector adapted to arrest said selector member in a successive number of positions selected in any desired order to effect the playing of records in that order, comprising a series of displaceable members, a manually operable member adapted to displace all of said members to various degrees, means for maintaining all of said displaceable members except one against displacement by said manually operable means, means for moving said retaining means step by step to render said displaceable means operable in desired order, a series of individual cam members each adapted to cooperate with one of said displaceable members and to be arrested thereby in a position determined by the displacement of the cooperating displaceable member, means for 013- 

